The Idaho Steelheads minor league hockey franchise, based in Boise, announced Tuesday that defenseman Cody Lampl has agreed to terms with the ECHL's Steelheads.
Lampl has a chance to become the first homegrown athlete in the history of the 12-year-old organization. He hails from Ketchum, grew up skating in the Sun Valley Junior Hockey program and also played for the Sun Valley Suns ice hockey team.
"There was no high school hockey in Boise when I started playing and the Steelheads were just getting going," Lampl said. "But, as I grew up, I looked up to guys like (former Steelhead stars) Marco Pietroniro, Cal Ingraham and Jeremy Mylymok."
Lampl, 23, attended Wood River High School in Hailey for two years before leaving to play junior hockey, ultimately ending up at the highly regarded NCAA Division 1 Colorado College hockey program in Colorado Springs. His parents, Tom and Lisa, and two sisters live in the Wood River Valley.
If he makes the roster, Lampl, a defenseman, will be the first player from Idaho to skate for the organization, which began play in 1997.
"Signing with them (the Steelheads) means I am their property and I can't play for anyone else in the league," Lampl said. "I will be going to training camp on Oct. 3."
A 5-10, 183-pound grinder who can also play forward, Lampl has had some experience in the ECHL. He skated in three games for the Las Vegas Wranglers at the end of last season.
He found he enjoyed the pace. "I found it was suitable and I could play it," he said. "It was nice to get those three games under my belt."
Lampl said he will spend the next five weeks at home improving his fitness in preparation for camp.
Steelheads' Director of Media and Community Relations Will Hoenike said the team will open the season against the Stockton Thunder in Boise Oct. 16. He expects coach Derek Laxdal to have the 20-man roster set "two or three days before then."
